Health and Safety

In an emergency, (injury, fire, any dangerous situation) call 911.

Please contact the Office of Public Safety at (607) 274-3333, if you are unsure of how to respond and need assistance, or if this is a holiday, weekend, or after business hours and someone requires immediate assistance.  From a campus phone, dial 4-3333.

Health, wellness & safety are priorities in the Center for Theatre and Dance, through the lens of Anti-Racism, Covid-19, the safe operation of equipment and systems, and the practices and actions we exhibit in our classrooms, studios, dressing rooms, offices, hallways, and theatre venues.  It is on all of us to establish and sustain a safe environment in which everyone can achieve their educational goals.

We acknowledge the primacy of anti-racism as an ongoing, long-term practice, and strive to provide students, faculty and staff with an equitable and safe learning and work environment in accordance to all College policies and practices.

The links to the left provide you with resources for handling emergencies and situations that happen in Dillingham that need immediate attention or follow-up, such as injuries in shop spaces, theatres, classrooms or studios, as well as links below for college-wide information and reporting interactions that are bias-related.  All students working backstage in any capacity are expected to read and know these safety guidelines and practices as well as emergency procedures.  

IMPORTANT LINKS

WORKING BACKSTAGE

There are many dangers inherent in working backstage – we use machinery (sometimes automated), chemicals, lifting devices and ladders, and electricity.  At times we work high above the surface of the floor.  We hang equipment above the heads of our co-workers and audience members.  Their safety, and yours, is the responsibility of everyone who works backstage. 

Always remember that your safety and the safety of others is the most important priority when working backstage – more important than deadlines, work notes, grades, or anything else.  If you are asked to perform a task and are unsure of how to perform that task safely, ask your crew supervisor or a faculty member for assistance.

If you are providing training to student workers, be clear about the instruction you are providing.  Student supervisors are provided with training syllabi to cover with their crews to ensure everyone working backstage knows how to do the job safely and correctly.

TRAINING

Each student who will be working on a production will be trained by a student supervisor or faculty/staff member to safely use the tools, equipment, and techniques which will be required of that student throughout the production process.  Each production department (lighting, carpentry, wardrobe, sound, properties, scenic art) has different expectations, tools, and sets of techniques to be learned.  

Training is mandatory prior to working in any capacity on any crew for Technical Theatre Practicum or Theatre Production.  At the beginning of a production’s build period, all members of Technical Theatre Practicum and Theatre Production I will be scheduled for a training session.  If you miss your training session, not only will your grade suffer as a result, but you may not work your assigned hours until successfully completing a training session.  This may result in further penalties to your grade if you are scheduled for work hours before a makeup training session can be arranged.

Student supervisors are provided with training guides to be taught to each student worker in each production department.  Each item on the training guide will be covered for new student workers, and it is important for all student workers to be comfortable with the covered training material.  If further clarification is needed on a training guide item, please contact the appropriate staff member or faculty mentor from the Sources of Assistance section to your left.